Lisbon, Nov.7 (Lusa) – Former British prime minister, Tony Blair, said on Wednesday he was against Brexit and would do everything he couldto stop the United Kingdom leaving the European Union (EU).
“I am 100% opposed to Brexit,” he said at Web Summit in Lisbon, which is taking place here until Thursday. "I think it is possible to stop it. It's not in our political interest, it's not in our economic interest, I think it weakens Britain and it weakens Europe,” he added.
He also acknowledged British prime minister Theresa May’s efforts to reach a deal but said the UK’s exit would be “painful” and “pointless.”
Blair, who was in power for two mandates, from 1997 to 2007, said that if May reached an agreement there would be new general elections but said this was unlikely.
"Let's assume they are not, they don't want an election. No deal is obviously absurd, I think at least we should have the chance to go back to the people,” Blair said.
The UK is to leave the EU in March 2019, two years after the official launch of the exit process, and almost three years after the referendum that saw 52% of the British people voting in favour of Brexit.
Web Summit kicked off on Monday and is taking place for the third time in Lisbon.
Last year's Web Summit drew some 60,000 people from 170 countries, including 1,200 speakers, representatives of 2,000 startups, 1,400 investors and 2,500 journalists.
JPF/MWYP // ADB.
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